CITY ROOM

By JAMES BARRON

Published: October 23, 2008

''Why do you want my opinion?'' Leonard N. Stern, who is No. 97 on Forbes's list of the 400 richest Americans, asked when a reporter called. ''Just because I have a lot of money?''

Actually, yes. With two billionaires on opposite sides of the debate about a proposal to make an exception to the term limits law -- Ronald S. Lauder (No. 118 on the Forbes list) for, and Tom Golisano (No. 281) against -- this seemed to be the moment to ask other extremely well-to-do New Yorkers what they thought and why they haven't weighed in.

Oh, and don't forget Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg (No. 8), is behind the proposal to change term limits, which would allow him to run again.

Some of the 66 billionaires on the Forbes list who live in New York City were hard to reach. Some were traveling. Some were not working because of Simhat Torah, the Jewish holiday.

Some, like Bruce Kovner (No. 105), a backer of The New York Sun, the newspaper that shut down last month, said through secretaries or public relations people that they never talk to reporters.

Mr. Stern said he was troubled that big-money types were pushing the term-limit question. ''We have people who are very, very wealthy,'' he said, ''who believe they have a right to a disproportionate voice in the process of government.''

Stephen M. Ross (No. 78), the chief executive of the Related Companies, said he had long opposed term limits and was troubled by Mr. Golisano's involvement. ''He doesn't live in New York City,'' Mr. Ross said. ''It sounds to me like somebody who's trying to get a lot of publicity and to insinuate himself in something he has nothing to do with to help his agenda.'' Mr. Golisano is from Rochester.

JAMES BARRON

COMMENT

OF THE DAY

''Yes, he was promoting his daughter's book -- by giving it away free (and, incidentally, depriving his daughter of royalties). If that's supposed to be corruption, I'd like to know where we can get some more of it and corrupt our youth all the way into reading more.''

-- Thomas Reimel,on ''My Daughter's Fabulous Book, an Ethical Yarn''

NEW YORK

DAYBOOK

Cocktails! Ring girls! Investment bankers paying for their sins with actual blood! It's the Wall Street Boxing Charity Championship --a chance to watch rich guys beat up on themselves. Proceeds go to Tuesday's Children, a nonprofit group established by the families of 9/11 victims and a community for orphans in Rwanda. 6:15 p.m. at the Hammerstein Ballroom, 311 West 34th Street, Manhattan. Tickets: doubledownmedia.com. ALAN FEUER